Increase in fuel consumption on Mondeo 2002

[chermesh]

Hi,
My Mondeo 2002 (200 cc) used to consume 9-10 galons for 100 km (I'm from Israel and use metric mesurements). Recently, the figure increased to 11-12 galons for 100 km. I waited for my routine 15,000 km service hoping for a solution. Regretebly, the figure stayed as high even after service. I asked my mechanic, but he replied that since all his tests proved pass, nothing can be done about it.
Is it so?
What else can I do?

[theholycow]

If your mechanic believes nothing has changed with your car, then you should consider other factors. Have any of these things changed?:
- Your usual route
- Fuel formula (for example, in the US our fuel formula changes between a summer blend and a winter blend)
- Your driving style
- Road surface
- Traffic
- Weather

[chermesh]

As far as I can see, nothing changed, and if at, they should have turned to the better.
The car passed an official test (in Israel, all car must take an annual test), and I've replace all four tires to new ones.
Inspite of these acts, gas consumption stayed high.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Could be the new tires... Cars are normally equipped with Low Rolling Restistance (LRR) tires from the factory to meet gov't fuel economy standards. Since these tires are very expensive, people rarely buy LRR tires as replacement tires. Also, your odometer will read slightly different between when tires are brand new, and when the tread is worn down, and needing replacement. I think its a combination of these two factors that is making up your mileage difference.

[chermesh]

I couldn't discern any difference in gas consumption between the pre-replacement and the post-replacement period. (I mentioned the tire replacement since I suspected older tires might have caused higher erosion, and consequently, higher gas consumption)

[theholycow]

Actually, worn tires have less rolling resistance than new tires and use less fuel.